Comparison

SurfCore vs Surf Blackball

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SurfCore

This app provides structured, surf-specific home workouts designed to improve strength, balance, mobility, and endurance for surfers of all levels. It offers training programs and sessions focused on real surf movements, acting as virtual surf coaching.

Highlights
  • Structured surf-specific workouts
  • 28-day training programs
  • Home workouts with minimal equipment
  • Sessions for paddle endurance and pop-up power
  • Beginner to advanced levels
  • Balance and mobility training
Features
Read full description

SurfCore gives you structured, surf-specific workouts that build the strength, balance, mobility, and endurance you actually use in the water. Whether you’re catching your first waves or chasing bigger swells, every session is built around real surf movements, so your progress at home shows up on the wave. What’s inside: — 28-day surf training programs — Home workouts with minimal or no equipment — Sessions for paddle endurance, pop-up power, balance, and mobility — Beginner to advanced levels, so you start where you are today Think of it as surf coaching for the days you can’t get in the water. Built by surfers, for surfers. Download SurfCore and start training for your next wave. Note: Please consult a physician or healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions or injuries. Your subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal anytime in your Apple Account settings. By purchasing, you accept our: Terms of Use – https://thesurfcore.com/terms-conditions/ Privacy Policy – https://thesurfcore.com/privacy-policy/

About

Surf Blackball

This app offers a land-based training system designed to improve surfing performance by focusing on strength, mobility, and endurance. It targets the specific mechanics of paddling, pop-ups, and breath control, making elite training accessible to all levels.

Highlights
  • Land-based surf training system
  • Improves strength, mobility, endurance
  • Targets paddling, pop-up, breath control
  • Bodyweight movements
  • Fusion of conditioning and recovery
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Blackball, a surf wellness community founded by professional surf coach and ex-WSL competitor, Luke Stedman, where passion meets purpose. We’re not just about riding waves; we’re about living better, stronger, and more connected lives. Our land-based training system is built on the same regimen that powered Luke’s elite career and continues to help today’s top surfers reach peak performance. But Blackball isn’t just for pros; it’s for everyone striving to break through personal barriers and hit their next level. Our training is designed to help you push your limits, increasing your functional strength, mobility, and endurance—all with a sharp focus on improving your surfing. Blackball training programs are a powerful fusion of strength training, aerobic conditioning, agility, mobility, and active recovery, but what sets us apart is that every workout trains the exact mechanics required to fuel your surfing performance. ​ Each workout is crafted with bodyweight movements targeting the six core elements essential for surfing: paddling, pop-up, compression/extension, weight shifting, rotation, and breath control. We’re not just building fitness; we’re tuning your body to maximize the potential in every wave. Read our full Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy: https://passion.io/terms-of-service https://passion.io/privacy-policy

Screenshots

SurfCore4 screens
Surf Blackball3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surf Blackball at none against SurfCore's 10. Surf Blackball also leads on ratings volume (8 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SurfCore sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Surf Blackball asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SurfCore against 5.0 for Surf Blackball. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SurfCore ships an update every 5 weeks, Surf Blackball every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SurfCore versus Surf Blackball: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurfCoreSurf Blackball
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings28 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKateryna DolmatovaThe Progression Lab LLC

Customer experience

SurfCore

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Surf Blackball

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

9 purchases

SurfCore

Subscriptions9
  • SurfCore Premium Weekly with Trial3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • SurfCore Premium Monthly$14.991 Month
  • SurfCore Premium Monthly with Trial7 Days trial$15.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • SurfCore Premium Monthly$15.991 Month
  • SurfCore Premium Monthly with Trial$15.991 Month
  • SurfCore Premium Yearly$35.991 Year
  • SurfCore Premium Yearly2 variants$59.991 Year
  • SurfCore Premium Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • SurfCore Premium Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
None

Surf Blackball

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SurfCore free?
SurfCore is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Surf Blackball free?
Surf Blackball is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SurfCore or Surf Blackball?
SurfCore and Surf Blackball are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 8 ratings respectively.
Do SurfCore or Surf Blackball have ads?
Both SurfCore and Surf Blackball show ads.
Which is updated more often, SurfCore or Surf Blackball?
SurfCore ships an update every 5 weeks, and Surf Blackball every 2 months. Most recently, SurfCore was updated on November 5, 2026 and Surf Blackball on October 30, 2026.

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